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Summary: "ANY good mystery must eventually uncover a villain, and in a recent documentary, Who Killed the Electric Car?, the filmmakers duly pointed the finger at General Motors. The reality is not quite so simple, but there is little doubt that when GM pulled the plug on its EV1 battery-powered car a decade ago, other manufacturers followed the giant carmaker’s lead.

Yet GM has now recharged its enthusiasm for electric vehicles—or at least for their close cousins, hybrid cars. At the North American International Auto Show, which opens in Detroit on January 7th, the company, hitherto an also-ran in the fast-growing hybrid market, is expected to unveil a prototype that overtakes existing hybrids, such as Toyota’s popular Prius. Today’s hybrids capture energy normally lost during braking and coasting and use it to power an electric motor that can provide extra bursts of acceleration when needed. The Prius and other hybrids can also run on battery power alone at low speeds over short distances, such as in stop-start traffic."

As early as this Sunday, whispers of a plug-in hybrid concept from GM will be put to rest—either by a Saturn VUE GreenLine with a cord or by something more drool-worthy. The name i-Car has been bandied about….

According to experts cited in the article, we could be able to drive a plug-in hybrid off the lot (whether from GM or some dark-horse competitor) as early as 2010, if lithium-ion battery technology continues to improve at its current pace.

On Friday last week, Ford Motor Company and Schaeffler demonstrated the Fiesta-based eWheelDrive car. The

Old Man Crowder

Call me cynical, but I’ll believe it when I see it. And I mean when I see them on the car lot.

Travis

We’re also talking about GM losing ground as the top auto manufacturer. They may just be saying this as a tactical ploy to steal some of the Prius thunder. Hopefully they’re serious.

Indigo

I’ll believe it when I see it. I figure that “GM” stands for “Gonna Maybe”.

Fred

AS an autobody technician, dealing with an automobile that emmits high voltage does cocern me. On the other hand as a consumer, the only way to overcome rising fuel cost is change the type of energy necessary to motivate our vehicles. The hybrids are the beginning of that process. In oder to make them better they must be tested in real world situations by everyday drivers. I’m thankful that the manufactuers like GM are willing to take the risk. If they succeed then the majority of society is better off.

Richard

There would be no prius without EV1, and they will go with the hybrid battery inventor Cobasys to release the first PHEV. Then you novices can learn something and get on the bandwagon.

dan

I have to agree based on past performance and past business practices. I will also believe it when I see it from GM. Unless it’s leaps and bounds above the Toyota line, my mind is set on the Camery Hybrid come spring.